A Gladesboro man believed to be armed and fleeing arrest has been charged with manufacturing marijuana and possessing a firearm while manufacturing marijuana.

On Monday, May 13 at approximately 6 p.m., Carroll County Sheriff’s Office deputies and officers with the Twin County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 1591 Kinzer Road, in the Gladesboro community of Carroll County, Sheriff J.B. Gardner said. He said deputies had been at the residence earlier in the afternoon when they discovered what appeared to be an indoor marijuana grow operation.

“Once inside an outbuilding behind the main residence, deputies discovered 23 mature marijuana plants. The marijuana grow operation appeared to have been up and producing for several months,” Gardner said. “Grow lights inside the building were on an automated, timed system and the building was climate controlled.”

Seized inside the home were several jars of processed marijuana, $2,700 in cash, numerous firearms, ammunition, surveillance cameras and other materials used in the growing and the security of the operation, Gardner said.

The resident of the home, Thomas Read, was not present at the time the search warrant was executed and is believed to be armed and fleeing arrest. Criminal charges of manufacturing marijuana and possessing a firearm while manufacturing marijuana were obtained by Deputies, the Sheriff added.